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(No Model.) 0. L. SPRAGUE.

' CARPET STRETGHEB. No. 364,058. Patented May 31, 1887.

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OSCAR SPRAGUE, 0F ANDOVEB, OHIO, ASSIGNOB'OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES w. SNODGRASS, or SAME PLACE.

' CARPET=STRETCHER.

QPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.364:,058, dated May 31, 1887;

Application filed Mu'reh25, 1887. Serial No. 232,439. (No model.) i

'To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR L. SPRAGUE, of Andover, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Carpet Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to carpet-stretchers; and it consists in certainimprovements in the construction and arrangement of the parts composing the apparatus, which produce a cheap, simple, and effective stretcher.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation with one of the side pieces of the frame removed, with the machine in position for being moved. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the parts in position for operation. Fig. 3 is a plan view. I

The frame of the machine is composed of two bars, A A, at the rear end of which is secured an axle, B, carrying atits ends wheels a a, upon which the machine can be rolled in moving it from place to place, and does not clog its turn is pivoted to the frame at i.

the carpet-when stretching the same. The wheels roll when the carpet is passing under them. Between the bars of the frame and at thei front end is rigidly secured the claw b, the bars being preferably recessed into the sides of the claw, so as to be flush therewith. A

stiffening-block, a, may be secured between the bars and behind the claw, if desired. The bars of the frame thus form a long narrow slot in which works the stretcher-bar 0, its rearend extending over the axle and its front end being free to move up and down. The stretcher D, which engages with the carpet, consists of a cross-piece, d, secured firmly to the bar 0 and carrying a series of sharp teeth, e, bent slightly downward. The cross-piece dis further supported by stays ff. Upon the upper face of bar G is formed the rack g,with

which engages the gravity-pawl h. This pawl is pivoted to the operating-lever E, which in F rep resents a pawl pivoted between two ears on the frame and behind the lever E,which engages with the rack as soon as the lever E has been pushed forward, and holds the said rack while the lever is being drawn back for another from passing through the carpet and catching in the floor, I have provided a lifter, G. This is pivoted to a projection, l, on the cross-piece d, which ext-ends up between the bars of the frame on which the lifter G rests. By raising the rear end of lifter G slightly the cross-piece and teeth,with the carpet, are correspondingly raised from the floor.

In operating my device the rack-bar is pushed back as far as it will go and the claw D driven into the floor close to the wash-board. The teeth will engage with the carpet at the proper point and the pawl h with the rackbar. The carpet is now stretched by a forward movement of the lever until it ecomes necessary to take a new hold, when te pawl F drops into the rack and holds it while the lever is being retracted.

The operation of the lifter has been already explained.

What I claimis-' 1. In a carpet-stretcher, the combination, with the slotted main frame, of the rack-bar sliding therein and supported so that its forward end is capable of moving vertically, the cross-piece D, secured rigidly to the rack-bar and having a series of teeth, and the pivoted lever G, connected to the cross piece and adapted to move the rack-bar vertically in the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the slotted main frame,of a rackbar havingavertical and longitudinal movement therein, a series of teeth on said bar, a pivoted lever carrying a pawl, and an indcpendentlypivoted retainingpawl, and a-lever, G, pivoted to a projection of the rack-bar and bearing on the main frame, substantially as described.

' OSCAR L. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

J. W. ROBERTS, H. P. KILE. 

